SC dismisses YSRCP plea on postal ballots norms in Andhra Pradesh

Election Commission of India, postal ballots

The Supreme Court on the June 3, a day before the declaration of Lok Sabha results, refused to entertain a plea by the YSR Congress Party (YSCRP) challenging the changes in the rules for counting of the postal ballots in Andhra Pradesh.

A vacation bench of justices Arvind Kumar and Sandeep Mehta noted that the Andhra Pradesh High Court was right in holding that the ruling party could move court by filing a plea after the counting was over on June 4.

Andhra is among the four states that held elections to their assemblies along with the Lok Sabha polls. While Sikkim and Arunachal results were declared on June 2, the counting of votes for Andhra and Odisha would be held along with that of the Lok Sabha on June 4.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) relaxed the norms for deciding on the validity of postal ballots. In a May 30 notification, which pertained only to Andhra Pradesh, the poll panel said postal ballots would be accepted even if the Form 13A was signed only by the attesting officer. The Form 13A is a certificate from the returning officer specifying the reason for casting a postal ballot.

According to YSRCP, the notification was contrary to the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961.

On June 2, INDIA opposition bloc urged the EC  to ensure that on June 4 postal ballots were counted and their results declared before the outcome of the EVMs was announced. It also said the poll panel should issue clear guidelines on the counting process and ensure they were implemented.

Briefing the media after the meeting, Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi said the delegation urged the poll officials to ensure that the postal ballots were counted and their results declared before announcing the results of the electronic voting machines (EVMs).

In a letter, the leaders said the number of postal ballots had gone up significantly in this election as senior citizens (aged 85 years and above) and differently-abled persons were allowed to cast their votes through this process.

The Election Commission allows certain category of voters such as elderly, differently abled, mediapersons covering elections away from their home base, defence personnel and those on poll duty to cast their vote through mail instead of going to the polling booths in person.